Hamilton "getting better every day" - Wolff

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has made clear Lewis Hamilton will drive in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix if he shakes off Covid-19.

Wolff has confirmed that Hamilton has improved over the past week since recording a positive test and will return this weekend if he shows up negative despite the stunning form of George Russell in the Sakhir GP.

"If Lewis recovers - and he is getting better every day - and he is being considered Covid-free and negative then he will be fine," explained Wolff.

“I think we need to see how well Lewis recovers, that’s the most important that he’s well and he says he’s a bit better today, he’s made a big step.

"If the test is negative, it’s his [Hamilton’s] car, and then I am sure he will drive a brilliant race. If the test in Abu Dhabi is positive then George is in the car.”

Russell put down a strong marker for the future on his maiden weekend with the team, setting the fastest times in both Friday practice sessions, finishing just 0.026 seconds behind Valtteri Bottas in qualifying before dominating the grand prix only for a pit-stop error and subsequent puncture to wreck his victory hopes.

When asked whether the Williams driver was being used as a strategic pawn in negotiations with Hamilton, who is yet to have signed a 2021 deal with the team, Wolff replied: "No, they are two different things.

"Lewis has been with the team for eight years. We have had great success in the past, he is a team member and I have said it already, none of the events will interfere or change any of our negotiations.

"That wouldn't be fair against him and it wouldn't be fair against us, because it could have gone the other way around and a race weekend where George wouldn't have been on the pace. Our negotiations go much beyond that."

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